Some of the country’s notable buildings will be converted into quarantine areas amid the continued rise in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

On Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila will be used as facilities for the treatment and health monitoring of COVID-19 patients.

Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Monday tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in cooperation with private entities, to complete all the work necessary to convert the said buildings into quarantine facilities.

In a statement, DPWH said it will work vigorously for the redesigning and conversion of PICC Forum Halls 1 to 3 into COVID-19 facility within two weeks.

The planned PICC health facility is estimated to cater to the treatment of about 630 patients, according to the DPWH.